In a positive sign of increasing stability in Libya, BP is restoring its contractual obligations in the Ghadames Basin. This is tremendous news for the region, but not without some residual risks because the area is at the heart of the old trading routes across North Africa.
Ghadames is a captivating historic town at the confluence of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. In 2012, I drove from Tripoli to this World Heritage listed town of 10,000 people to better understand the tension between the Tuareg, Arab and Berber tribes who share a symbiotic relationship around this Saharan oasis. There is a lot at stake there because the oil wealth does not reach local residents and during the civil war, there were several battles on the edge of the town. The balance between the tribes needs to be addressed as a top priority, in order to secure the pipes to the coast.
Once an uninterrupted flow to the Mediterranean Sea is re-established, it will mark an important step towards restoring Libya to its former position as a leader in the oil and gas sector, which in turn, could help Europe (and Britain) ween its reliance on Russian and Gulf energy.
The Old Town of Ghadames
Rupert Wieloch 